Building capacity, and relationships, a trip to Isiro, by Jennings (with a few lines from Douglas)

Our cadre of consultants and consultants-in-training! (Minus two who could not attend.) You will notice I'm the only woman... ask me what I think about that, sometime! 

The other day at the office, I (Jennings) greeted a colleague had just returned from an IT conference that had been deeply encouraging and stimulating for him. It wasn't just - or even primarily - the technical aspects he appreciated, but getting to know other IT people in our organization. "It's all about relationships," he said. I had to think about that... it isn't how I normally think of work here, even when it's called "ministry". But, in fact, building relationships is the essential part of what we are all doing, and we forget that at our peril.

Last month, I spent 3 weeks in the area around Isiro, a more humid, forest-y area. (Bunia is in a hilly, savanna area.) For two weeks, we had a capacity-building workshop for translation consultants and consultants-in-training. There were 16 of us -- 4 expats and 12 Congolese -- at a center outside of town. We debated strategy, discussed best practices for consulting, learned new software techniques, and talked about relating and working cross-culturally.



But perhaps the most important thing about the two weeks together was that we were able to bond as a team. The workshop leader led us in an extended time of prayer one night, where everyone had the chance to share what was on their heart and to be prayed for. We had lots of down time, to play games, take walks and watch movies. Participants commented on how much it meant to them to feel cared for, and to be able to speak openly.

Tembo New Testament received with much joy! (by Jennings)

(This post is taken from a recent newsletter, but with more photos and description.)

After more than 20 years of linguistic work, literacy classes, translation and checking, war and insecurity, the Tembo people now have the entire New Testament in their language! Praise God!!

The dedication ceremony was held Oct. 7, in the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The Tembo home area is actually several hours away, in another province. But the project moved to Goma around 15 years ago because of militia fighting in their home area, a knock-on effect of the genocide in Rwanda. The situation in the Tembo homeland is still dire at times… villages burned, pillaged, people attacked, raped, killed.

Translator Robert Mwanjale (far right) in the village of Ziralo, distributing the book of Genesis.

Goma has not always been much safer. The Tembo continued working there in 2002, after a volcanic eruption that sent lava through the center of town, and in 2012, when the city was taken over by Rwandan rebels.

Road to the Goma airport, with the volcano Mount Nyiragongo in the background. Lava from multiple eruptions covers much of the city and surrounding area.

Goma, city of over 1 million people

The Tembo community in Goma is strong and cohesive, and they have been very supportive of the translation project. They attend literacy classes in Tembo and teach their children to speak and read the language, even though Goma is dominantly Swahili. There are weekly radio broadcasts in the Tembo language, including songs, Scripture readings and preaching. Tembo people from all over the area call in to comment and to send greetings over the radio to family who are scattered. The Tembo translators and literacy workers make regular visits to the home area despite the danger. (Recently, two Tembo project workers were robbed and roughed up by militia on their way home from a trip.)

The Tembo had always planned to hold the dedication in the town of Bunyakiri, where the project first started. But due to insecurity and bad roads, they decided to have it in Goma, for the safety of visitors and to thank the Goma community for their support.

Thousands of people came to celebrate, dance, and hear Scripture in Tembo. Several of us attended from our Bunia office, and others came from Kinshasa, Kenya, the U.S. and Europe. It was a joyful celebration from start to finish!

Home Away From Home (by Jennings)

Tomorrow I go to Goma for another 2-week visit with the translation team. When I was leaving from my last visit, in December, one of the team members (far right below) said aloud what I was also thinking: it was actually hard to say good-bye. We've always had a friendly relationship, but we've spent so much time together now that there is a depth to that relationship that wasn't there in the first years. I was deeply touched when he said that... and a little scared... great, another chance to suffer, more people to miss. But that's part of the deal, a blessing that is precious and painful.

Healthcare Among Friends - Part 2

Another tale of friendship and surgery, this one far more serious. You will notice that, as in the last post, there are a lot of "as it happens" in this story. Lots of happy coincidences. Some of these I attribute to the fact that Congolese society is highly networked and inter-dependent, with lots of unexpected connections between people I never would have guessed knew each other. I also can't help but see God's hand in how things came together. Here's the story:

The head translator for one of the projects we work with, Pierre, had known for some time that he needed prostate surgery. He lives up north in an area that does not have great hospitals. But a couple of hours outside of Bunia, in a town called Nyankunde, there is a very good hospital, furnished and supported by Samaritan's Purse. It is well-known throughout the region. That is where Pierre hoped to have this surgery.

Pierre, head translator for the Bible in his language. During tea time at the translation office.

Take a Picture, It'll Last Longer (by Jennings)

One of the hardest things for me to adjust to in Congo is the sense of being stared at, almost constantly, when I'm in public. I am particularly self-conscious, so I probably struggle with this more than others. But it also has to do with differences in what is culturally acceptable, and what gazing at someone communicates. So I've been thinking about this, and here are a few observations:

Beautiful photos, beautiful faces... one talented photographer

Our young friend Anna is in Nyankunde with her father and sister for a few weeks - her first trip to Congo.  She posted these beautiful photos of people in the village and hospital there. Enjoy.